It seems just a few weeks ago I was paddling around on a beautiful Quebec lake, hiking through some swaying trees in Gatineau Park! What's this? Snow? No! Say it isn't so! I was once a child, like everyone of course, but when I was a child I enjoyed all things snow. Skating, sledding, making snow forts and all other things one does with snow. I am 52 now and my body just doesn't like snow the way I used to, not one bit. The mere touch of a cool breeze chills me to the bone these days and I don't know why short of aging. There is one aspect of snow that remains a deep call to me, it is the range of brilliant colours that are revealed through the many shadows and layers of the cold stuff. I early enjoy painting snow. The mix of cobalts and Prussian blue, balanced against white, yellow and peach. Just makes me forget how uncomfortable that cold stuff is, after all! Makes me gather up my Nikon and head out to capture more shadows, more layers of blue, more, more, more! So bring on the cold stuff! I'm ready for you. the canvas is waiting for all that you have throw at me.

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This is me at Holly and Roy's cottage painting sketch canvases of Canoe Lake in the summer of 2011.

This sketch above became this finished painting below

The Pine Tree Painter.

How did I become known as the Pine Tree Painter? You could say I paint a lot of Pine Trees, that would be true. I paint a lot of other things too, but Pine Trees, Spruce Trees, Birch and others seem to be a continuous string in what i do. I just like the way they stand there like a custodian of the land. or a greeter to nature. So, I continue down the path with the Pine Tree Painter name on my head, It's ok. Robert McAffee